Little Boots Donates Songs to Power Tour

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: at 3.15pm on Wednesday 27 October at The Base Youth Centre, Carlton Street, Scunthorpe, DN15 6TX. Young musicians from the Goole band Rhodes and Morecambe band Cry Baby Aeroplanes.

Would-be young rock musicians will have the chance to take to the centre stage in the first ever Power Tour organised by Music4U - the Humber Region Youth Music Action Zone - and perform cover versions of two tracks donated to this project by the electro-pop singer Little Boots.

Music4U has collaborated with two other Youth Music Action Zones - CoMusica based in Gateshead and More Music based in Morecambe, to organise a mini tour for budding rock musicians. The tour, which is part of national Youth Music Week (27 Oct - 3 Nov) starts in the Humber Region on Wednesday 27 October at The Base Youth Centre, Carlton Street, Scunthorpe. Running from 7.00pm - 9.00pm, entry is 50p on the door.

Three bands and a solo act will perform at The Base: the rock band 'Rhodes' from Goole with Scunthorpe's own rock singer Foz as support, both representing the Humber Region, along with 'Cry Baby Aeroplanes' from Morecambe and The BrU - a 4 piece acoustic/alternative band with vocals, ukulele, cahon and guitarist from Gateshead. Rhodes was selected for the tour from the regional 'rock night' showcase platforms held earlier in the year. Many of the musicians who took part in these showcases have taken part in rock and band development projects in the past run by Music4U. Each band has been invited to perform a unique cover version of 'New in Town' or 'Remedy' by Little Boots, who is one of Youth Music's Ambassadors.

Rhodes will then have the opportunity to be guest band at The Devonshire Hall in Morecombe on Thursday 28 October and The Sage, Gateshead on Saturday 30 October as part of the Power Tour.

Delma Tomlin, Music4U's Director commented: "This is a really exciting project for our Zone. It is fantastic that young people have been given the opportunity to perform in their region but also to tour with their bands to other regions and experience what it is like to be a band 'on the road!' We are really looking forward to welcoming bands from our partner organisations in Morecambe and Gateshead and welcome the opportunity to give young people this platform."

In addition to the performances, at each venue on this tour, the audience will be able to watch a series of short films from the rehearsals and workshops which all the bands have taken part in - creating a real sense of sharing experiences. Plus each Power Tour gig will be filmed in October and these films will be available to watch on the Music4U website (www.ncem.co.uk/music4u) and on the Music4U myspace (www.myspace.com/music4uhumber) soon after the tour.

The Power Tour is part of the imove Cultural Olympiad programme 'New Worlds: The Many Routes to Yorkshire'. It is anticipated that the project will be extended to include a wider national group of Youth Music Action Zones in 2011 with a view to young people involved in the tour being able to perform on a national platform in the run-up to the Olympics in 2012.

To find out more about Music4U's activities, go to www.ncem.co.uk/music4u or visit www.myspace.com/humbermusic4u.

Editors Notes:
Youth Music is a UK-wide charity that funds and facilitates music-making for young people up to the age of 18, particularly those living in areas of social and economic need. By 2010, Youth Music aims to have reached 3 million children and young people in a UK-wide strategy to support youth music-making. More info is available at http://www.youthmusic.org.uk/. Since the creation of the first Youth Music Action Zone in 2000, the concept has been rolled out over 24 regions across England and Wales, some of which are now in their sixth year of operation. With a remit to support music-making activities for some of the UK's most disadvantaged young people, Youth Music Action Zones have gone on to reach over 230,000 children and young people, encouraging their talents, building their confidence and transforming the landscape of musical opportunity throughout the UK. The music-making supported is of the widest variety, from hip-hop and dj-ing to classical and jazz.

Youth Music Week 2010 - Wednesday 27 October to Wednesday 3 November - throughout the country.
Now in its fifth year, Youth Music Week is geared towards putting young people's music making on the map. Through a wide range of music workshops, performances and fundraising events, it offers an annual platform for young people to showcase their music. The positive and transformative effect that music can have on young peoples' lives is well documented but there are still millions of young people who aren't getting the chance to access these opportunities. Visit: http://www.youthmusic.org.uk/musicispower/Support-Us.html for information on how to support Youth Music Week and the Youth Music initiatives to develop all stages of young peoples' musical development and their all important first break.